The Australian government is urging the coalition and the Greens to collaborate on significant nature reforms aimed for completion by the end of 2025. Environment Minister Murray Watt emphasized the urgency of this initiative, stating, “Reform can and will be done,” during his address to the National Press Club. He noted that following the intense partisanship of recent elections, this moment presents the best opportunity to enact a balanced set of laws that serve the national interest.
The proposed legislation seeks to overhaul the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and will be introduced in the House of Representatives on October 19, 2023. In his upcoming speech, Minister Watt is expected to outline how the bill aims to strike a balance between environmental protection and expediting project approvals. He references a 2020 review by Graeme Samuel, which highlighted significant shortcomings in Australia’s national environmental law, describing it as “fundamentally broken, outdated, and failing both the environment and business.”
In his remarks, Minister Watt will also address internal conflicts within the coalition and respond to Sussan Ley, the Opposition Leader, who recently proposed splitting the bill. Additionally, he plans to challenge the Greens, accusing them of obstructing progress rather than supporting necessary reforms.
Key features of the proposed bill include the establishment of an independent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which will hold new powers to issue stop-work orders and audit compliance among approval holders. While the EPA will operate independently, Minister Watt will retain the final authority on development approvals.
These reforms aim to eliminate duplication in the approval and assessment processes by updating bilateral agreements with state and territory governments. The government intends to streamline assessment timeframes for proponents who furnish adequate initial information for their developments.
To expedite the process, the government will initiate a 25-day parliamentary inquiry into the reforms, aiming for the inquiry to yield results before the bill is scheduled to pass through the Senate by November 27, 2023.
The push for these reforms is seen as critical not only for environmental protection but also for facilitating business and project development in Australia. The government is determined to navigate the legislative landscape to ensure that these long-awaited changes are enacted timely.
As the Australian Associated Press (AAP) notes, this initiative represents a pivotal moment for environmental policy in Australia, with potential implications for future governance and business operations across the country.
